Wetting agent useful for alkaline mercerizing solutions



Patented Sept. 30, 1941 WETTING AGENT USEFUL FOB ALKALINE MERCERIZING SOLUTIONS Ferdinand Miinz, Frankfort-on-the-Main, and

Otto Trosken, Franktort-on-the-Main-Fechenhelm, assignors, eral Aniline 8;

by mesne assignments, to Gen- Film Corporation, New York,

N. Y., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application June 22, 1939, Serial No. 280,578. In Germany June 24, 1938 3 Claims.

Our present invention relates to wetting agents useful for alkaline mercerizing'solutions, more particularly to those of the general formula wherein R stands for the radicle of an aliphatic hydrocarbon containing 4 to 8 carbon atoms, and X1 and X2 for aliphatic hydrocarbon radicles, each containing more than one carbon atom and at least one and at the most two hydroxy groups.

According to the length of the carbon chain of the fatty acid radicle and the number of the water-solubilizing hydroxy groups, these amides may be easily soluble or they may be practically insoluble in mercerizing solutions. In the latter case they may be dissolved by the addition of one of the known dispersing agents.

The aforesaid fatty acids of to 9 carbon atoms can be obtained by starting from natural products. They are formed as by-products in the process of oxidizing paraflin to soap formin fatty acids, and therefore, their application is of importance. Moreover, those acids with a branched chain may be used which are obtainable by oxidizing higher alcohols which are formed within the methanol synthesis.

The preparation of the hydroxyalkylamides is performed in the known manner by starting from the acids or their functional derivatives.

In order to further illustrate our invention the following examples are given, the parts being by weight. We wish it however to be understood, that our invention is not limited to the particular products or reaction conditions mentioned therein.

Example 1 The mixture of fatty acids containing '7 to 9 carbon atoms in their molecule, which is formed in the process of oxidizing, parafiin, is converted in the known manner into the diethanolamide of the formula CHzCHaQH RC O-N CHzCHaOH wherein It stands for an aliphatic radical containing six to eight carbon atoms which is a viscous liquor, clearly soluble in a caustic soda solution of 30 B. Mercer'izing solutions containing 5 to 10 grams thereof per liter are capable of wetting raw cotton nearly instantly.

Example 2 When mixing the corresponding diethanolamide of a mixture of fatty acids containing 5 to 7 carbon atoms with the same amount of the monoethanolamide of the normal-Valerie acid of the formula grams thereof are easily soluble in 1 liter of a caustic soda solution of 30 B.

Example 4 20 parts of a hydroxyalkylamide of the formula CHzCH.OH.CHa.OH

and parts of cresol are mixed. 5 grams of this mixture are clearly soluble in 1 liter of a caustic soda solution of 30 B. The solution obtained exhibits a good wetting effect.

Example 5 5 grams of a mixture of 50 parts of the monoethanolamide of valeric acid (cf. Example 2) and of 50 parts of a highly sulfonated derivative of oleic acid (cf. British specification 293,717) are dissolved in one liter of a caustic soda solution of 30 B. The solution obtained exhibits a very good wetting eflect.

cerizing bath containing a compound of the formula wherein R stands for the radicle of an aliphatic hydrocarbon containing 6 to 8 carbon atoms, and X1 and X: for aliphatic hydrocarbon radicles, each containing more than one carbon atom and at least one and at the most two hydroxy groups. 1 3. As a composition of matter an alkaline mercerizing bath containing a compound of the formula cmomon R-C o- CHQCHIOH wherein R stands for an aliphatic hydrocarbon radicalcontaining six to eight carbon atoms.

FERDINAND MttNz. o'rro TRfiSKEN. 

